Now minister backs universities that ban full-face veils

A minister today backed universities that ban Muslim students and staff from wearing the veil.

Bill Rammell stepped into the row opened by Jack Straw by saying many felt "uncomfortable" teaching - or being taught by - someone in a full-face veil.

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The Higher Education Minister spoke out in an exclusive interview with the Evening Standard ahead of new guidance to be issued by the Government to col leges and universities on how to tackle campus extremists.

"I'm not dictating hard and fast rules, as dress codes are a matter for university authorities," said the minister.

"But Imperial College recently banned the face veil and I think that this is arguably the best decision. Many teachers would feel very uncomfortable about their ability to teach students who were covering their faces.

"And I doubt many students would feel it was acceptable to be taught by someone who had chosen to veil their face."

His views echo the controversial stance of Mr Straw, the Commons leader, who said he had started asking Muslim women to take off their veils when they came to his surgery for advice because he felt uncomfortable if he could not see their faces.

The row over veils was reignited by author Salman Rushdie, who said "veils suck" because they were a symbol of the "limitations of women".

Tony Blair backed Mr Straw's call for a debate but Chancellor Gordon Brown went further last night by declaring that it would be "better for Britainî if fewer Muslim women wore veils.

He told the BBC: "That is what Jack Straw has said and I support." He added: "I would emphasise the importance of what we do to integrate people into our country, including the language and including history."

The new government guidance will make clear that university vice-chancellors should take on a leadership role to challenge extremism - and protect vulnerable young people who appear to be being targeted by radicals. It will cover case studies and offer advice on the legal responsibilities of universities.

Mr Rammell said: "The purpose is threefold - it is to listen; to resolve problems where there are legitimate grievances; and to isolate and challenge that small minority who hold extremist views. There is also a leadership role for universities to engage in that way and build up the confidence and the capacity to challenge the extremist minority."

Mr Rammell said that recent meetings with university staff and students had left him in no doubt that only a tiny proportion of Muslim students were sympathetic to extremism.

However, he found that a few were "in denial" about the threat posed by radical Islamics and some refused to believe that Muslims were really to blame for the London bombings and the 9/11 attacks in the US.

Imperial College, meanwhile, said it had not banned veils specifically, but any garment that covered the face - which could include full-face Muslim veils like the burka, chador or niqab as well as motorcycle couriers' helmets.